EG’s Training Department is in a Change Mode for 2006

Employers Group’s Training Department is undergoing many changes in 2006. Based upon trainee and member feedback, new programs are being deployed, new learning formats introduced, and programs are being realigned to meet your needs. Stay tuned throughout 2006 for these exciting training developments.

• Basic Leadership Skills Certificate Programs. Employers Group has introduced a 24-hour basic leadership program. The program includes six 4-hour modules typically delivered once a week for six weeks. The program is a foundation of leadership skills to increase any leader’s effectiveness, whether new to leadership or more seasoned.
• Advanced Leadership Skills Certificate Programs. Employers Group will soon introduce a 24-hour advanced leadership program. While the program correlates to the basic program, attendance in the basic program is not required as the advanced program represents an entirely different skill set. The advanced program is also delivered in six 4-hour modules and is conveniently scheduled so that trainees in the basic program can easily transition into the advanced program.
• Human Resources Professional Series Certificate. This new Employers Group HR certificate program replaces the Certificate in Human Resources Program. The program features a total of 16 courses that are conveniently scheduled every other week so that the program can be completed in just 32 weeks instead of one year.
• New Public Workshop Format. All public workshops are being revised and will be delivered in 4-hour sessions (9 a.m. to 1 p.m. or 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.). This change allows trainees to receive the training they need in less time away from the office.
• New Lunch ‘n Learns. Short on time? Need training? These Webinar formats are designed with maximum impact in mind. Receive training from the convenience of your office over the lunch hour (12:15 p.m. to 1:15 p.m.). Sessions are conducted twice a month – one dealing with compliance (911 series) and one dealing with good HR information (411 series).
• New 2006 Catalog. Coming in March, Employers Group will unveil its newest catalog – Training and Consulting Services Catalog. This new format will not only provide information on Employers Group public workshops for the year, but also contains information on consulting services and maximizing Employers Group membership benefits.
• Workplace and Employment Law Updates. Get the latest on workplace issues and legislative developments at our annual one-day event held throughout California in the fall.
• Statewide Conference. Celebrating Employers Group 110th Anniversary, plan on attending a one-day statewide HR conference this summer (date to be announced) featuring well-known speakers. You will not want to miss this event!

Employee Opinion Survey
Is your Turnover High and Employee Morale Low? Employers Group’s Employee Opinion Surveys may help find solutions to your company’s workplace problems.

Employee Opinion Surveys are an effective and efficient means of gathering valuable information useful in achieving organizational objectives. Companies that conduct employee surveys can find innovative ways to enhance management effectiveness and improve employee morale and productivity.

Through this flexible tool, companies can:

• Evaluate management effectiveness and employee morale
• Identify organization’s strengths and weaknesses
• Involve employees in continuous improvement
• Plan cost effective corrective and/or preventative actions
• Highlight opportunities to improve service, quality and productivity
• Measure management credibility
• Achieve improvements in internal communications & employee retention

How do you know if your company should consider an EOS?

• Turnover is high or morale is low
• Long-time employees are leaving
• HR needs a "take-a-number" station
• Customers are complaining or leaving
• Productivity is low or scraps are high
• Meetings consume too much time
• Projects are off schedule

About the Survey

EG’s Employee Opinion Survey collects employees' perceptions and opinions about their company's working environment. Use this survey when you need an overall assessment of your workforce. Employees are asked to provide feedback by indicating agreement or disagreement with statements organized into nine categories:

• Compensation & Benefits
• Physical Work Setting
• Available Resources
• Job Satisfaction
• Supervisor Practices
• Senior Management Practices
• Performance Review
• Career Opportunities & Development
• Co-Workers

About the Process:

The survey is conducted and administered by EG. We act as an objective third party to assure employee confidentiality.

We offer written feedback about employee attitudes and perceptions.

The report also includes an executive summary and statistical analysis, along with follow-up discussions with management.

For more information about Employee Opinion Surveys, please contact Research Services at 213.765.3969 or email us at surveys@employersgroup.com.

Recruitment Help: FAST and CHEAP!

Has the tightening labor market got you scrambling to find strong job candidates? Are you spending far more time on recruiting efforts than you can afford? If you’re looking for a truly FAST, CHEAP and EFFECTIVE recruitment solution, Employers Group has the answer - our exclusive recruitment partner, Decision Toolbox.

Since 2002, Decision Toolbox has filled hundreds of positions for Employers Group members for an average Cost per Hire of less than 7% of first year salary. They present the candidate who is ultimately hired within an average of 11 days from project launch.

Decision Toolbox helps employers stay competitive in recruitment by combining the power of effective marketing, high-level recruitment expertise, refined recruitment processes and the speed and efficiency of technology. With an average customer satisfaction rating of 90%, EG member feedback is consistently the same: “Decision Toolbox is fast, cheap and effective”! In fact, we at Employers Group are so impressed with Decision Toolbox’s service, we use them ourselves as our primary recruitment resource.

As the labor market continues to tighten, recruiting will demand more and more of your time. Don’t waste precious hours struggling through the process – let the experts handle it.

For more information on Decision Toolbox and recruitment services offered through Employers Group, call us at 800.748.8484, Option 3.

FAQs about Workplace Violence
The following are some of the frequently asked questions received by our Helpline.

Q: How can I prevent someone who has made violent threats against one of my employees from entering the premises?

A: In order to get law enforcement agencies to help you prevent a person from entering your premises or leaving your premises, you must have a Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) or an Injunction against the person. In California TRO’s and injunctions may be issued by courts upon petition of either the employee or the employer.

An employer may get a restraining order against the perpetrator of violence against an employee or an individual who has made a credible threat of violence against an employee. The authority for this is California Code of Civil Procedure 527.8. For this purpose, employees include every person rendering actual service in any business for an employer. It includes volunteers and members of boards of directors.

Q: What is the difference between a temporary restraining order and an injunction?

A: A temporary restraining order is an order from a court directing one person not to do something, such as make contact with another person, remove a child from the state or enter a home or business A temporary restraining order is typically issued in circumstances where immediate action is called for before giving the other side a chance to reply. Courts often issue TROs based on affidavits from a person whose interests are about to be harmed.

A preliminary injunction is issued only after the other side has been given an opportunity to reply and be heard, and has either consented to maintain the status quo or not made a sufficient showing to defeat the plaintiff’s claims.

A longer lasting or “permanent” injunction is typically issued after a full trial of the merits, or on the consent or default of the other side. Injunctions are orders that one side refrain from or stop certain actions, such as an order that an abusive spouse stay away from the other spouse. Workplace violence injunctions are typically issued for 3 years.

Q: How can I get a restraining order against someone who has made violent threats against one of my employees?

A: An employer may seek protection if the following are true.

1. An employee has suffered unlawful violence or a credible threat of violence from any individual.
2. The unlawful violence or credible threat of violence can reasonably be construed to have been carried out in the workplace.
3. The defendant’s conduct is not allowable as part of a legitimate labor dispute.
4. The defendant is not engaged in constitutionally protected activity.

The process begins with the employer, who is the plaintiff, completing a petition giving the details of recent acts of violence or credible threats of violence and the problems they have caused your employee. The court may issue a TRO to take effect immediately and stay in effect until there is a hearing.

The next step will be a hearing. After the hearing the court may issue an injunction, which will usually be in effect for three years although the judge may rule that it remain in effect for a shorter or longer period. Copies of the TRO and the injunction need to be given to the employee, the defendant and any law enforcement agencies that may be called upon to enforce the orders.

Instructions and forms for this process are available at http://www.courtinfo.ca.gov/selfhelp/protection/workviol.htm

Employers Group Partners with People ROA to Meet your Sage Abra HR Needs

Employers Group is pleased to announce our new partnership with People ROA, Inc. to provide Sage Abra HRMS solutions and service to our members.

Sage Abra HRMS is the award-winning HR, payroll, benefits, training, recruiting, and compliance solution for small to mid-sized businesses. Its flexible design features your choice of database platforms, including SQL, MSDE, or Visual FoxPro, a comprehensive array of features, and the powerful reporting and analysis capabilities that you need to manage your workforce.

As a Certified Business Partner of Sage Software (formerly Best Software), People ROA is a leading provider of HR and payroll software solutions for Sage Abra HRMS. They offer:

• Sage Abra HR and Payroll (HRMS/HRIS) Packaged Software Solutions
  • By blending project management and expert HR and payroll knowledge with superior product knowledge, People ROA will help implement, upgrade or tune-up your HR and payroll system to allow your organization to reduce inefficiencies and become more strategic.
• HR Business Process and HRIS Consulting Services
  • Transform your organization, from streamlining and automating HR processes to implementing advanced, cost-reduced strategies such as a shared service center and improved service.

For more information on our new ABRA HRMS partnership and related solutions, please call Katherin Scott with Employers Group at 213.765.3949.

Worth Its Weight in Life - Employer’s Guide to Workplace Security and Violence Prevention

Sadly workplace shootings are becoming all too common these days as stress levels at work continue to rise and workplaces become a place for disturbed (ex) employees to make one last statement. The recent shooting in a Goleta, CA mail processing plant reminds us of just how serious the issue can be.

Taking preventative steps
Employers are charged with the care of their employees even against attacks from their own – which unfortunately tends to comprise the greatest percentage of risk in respects to violence at work. Taking steps in advance to deal with stress and violence indicators and/or being prepared for emergencies as they arise, and they will arise, is worth its weight in gold, or better yet, in human life.

With all this uncertainty about workplace security facing employers today many HR managers may feel they have no resources to guide them through this maze of potential liability. Employers Group, however, has one of the answers to your workplace security dilemma.

Richard Simmon's book is a great guide for workplace security
In his book “Employer's Guide to Workplace Security and Violence Prevention, 4th Edition”, Richard J. Simmons details a practical and useful review of the laws in the field of workplace security and violence prevention. Also, Mr. Simmons reviews the obligations of employers and the concerns that every workplace now faces. CAL-OSHA rules, applicant screening techniques, new forms for TRO's, and the Workplace Violence Safety Act are also included. In addition it also covers:

• High-Risk Occupations
• Special Health-Care Guidelines
• Mandatory Changes to IIP Plans
• ADA Issues
• Negligent Hiring and Retention
• Confidentiality Concerns
• Statistical Insights
• Violence Prevention Strategies
• Complaint Procedures
• Duty to Warn
• Sample Forms and Policies
• Sample IIP Program

Unquestionably, this is a must have for any complete HR library. This book and many others by Mr. Simmons are available through the EG Store at discounted member rates.

For more information you can visit our web site at http://www.employersgroup.com/products/books/index.shtml. Or you may call our Member Service Center at 800.748.8484 and select option #3 to speak to a representative.